Two Reading Blue Coat School pupils have been called up to represent England in their respective sports.

Abby Dow, 18, has been called up to join the England Women's Under 20 squad after helping England Under 18 Sevens side win the European Under 18 Championship in Belgium.

Her schoolmate Francesca Williams, 17, has been selected as vice captain of the England Under 21 squad for the Netball European Under 21 Championship in Scotland.

Mrs Claire Dance, who is the head of girls’ games at Blue Coat said: "Abby is a phenomenal athlete whose talents don't just end with rugby, she is also a national swimmer.

"Abby has the drive, determination and skill to turn her hand to any sport and is a real asset to the school both competitively and academically.”

Abby Dow displays her athletic prowess at Reading Bluecoat School

She added: "Fran is an outstanding player and has been a real asset to the school’s A squad over the last year.

"She has the ability to change the game to her advantage. Fran’s biggest strength must be her ability to read the game tremendously well and she can anticipate where the opponents will throw the ball.

"This, coupled with her fantastically long arms, makes her a demon defender. I am so pleased to have had the opportunity to work with Fran.”

Abby, who lives in Maidenhead and plays for Reading Rugby Club in Sonning, is one of 17 new players who have been called up to the 31-woman squad.

The team, coached by former England captain Jo Yapp, will play the Army in February and two games against France in March before embarking on a summer tour.

Francesca, who lives in Reading and plays for Team South, previously represented England Under 19s on a summer tour of Australia in July, and was part of the England Under 19 National Academy Squad that toured Botswana in August 2014.

She also toured with the Under 19 side in Australia over the summer, but she is now set to lead England Under 21s against Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales in the Netball European Under 21 Championship in October.